The Italian championships in parallel giant slalom and parallel slalom took place in Funes. © framk schneider

From junior world champions and convincing European Cup debuts

When it comes to medals for natural track tobogganers, South Tyrol's aces are usually at the forefront. It was no different at this year's Junior World Championships in Austria. But the local youth were also able to cause a sensation in other sports last week - for example the Italian snowboard championships in Villnöß.

13. February 2024

From: pm

The Italian parallel giant slalom and parallel slalom championships took place last week in the home valley of Roland Fischnelller, the still active and best South Tyrolean snowboarder of all time. The races, in which numerous top international snowboarders took part, also counted for the Alperia Cup.

The new Italian champions in parallel giant slalom are Mirko Felicetti from Trentino and Lucia Dalmasso (Falcade). As the best South Tyrolean, Daniele Bagozza from Val Gardena took third place and won bronze, while Jasmin Coratti (Langtaufers) was happy about the silver medal for women. In the parallel slalom, Bagozza clinched the “Scudetto” ahead of Felicetti and Langtauferer Edwin Coratti. In the women’s race, Dalmasso celebrated the double and Coratti came second again.

An overview of the South Tyrolean medal winners in the individual junior categories

Parallel giant slalom:
Ragazzi female: 1. Lia Holzknecht (Villnöß), 3. Marie Dorfmann (Villnöß)
Ragazzi male: 3. Matteo Bogliolo (Burgstall)
Allievi female: 2. Lena Obwexer (Villnöß)
Allievi male: 1. Tobia Mutschlechner (St. Vigil), 2. Maris Baumgartner (Villnöß)
Aspiranti male: 1. Tommy Rabanser (Gröden), 2. Kevin Crazzolara (Gröden), 3. Philipp Mutschlechner (St. Vigil iE)
Aspiranti female: 2. Sofia Federplayer (Villnöß)
Junior male: 1. Mike Santuari Welschnofen), 2. Tommy Rabanser, 3. Manuel Haller (Merano)
Junior female: 1. Sophie Rabanser (Gröden), 3. Anna Mammone (Welschnofen)

Parallel slalom:
Ragazzi female: 2. Lia Holzknecht
Allievi male: 1. Tobia Mutschlechner, 2. Maris Baumgartner
Aspiranti male: 1. Tommy Rabanser, 2. Edoardo Da Col (Welschnofen)
Aspiranti female: 2. Sofia Federplayer
Junior male: 1. Tommy Rabanser, 2. Elias Zimmerhofer (Villnöß), 3. Simon Dorfmann (Villnöß)
Junior female: Sophie Rabanser, 2nd Anna Mammone

In Jakuszyce the grapes hang high

There was no top placement for the local ski hunters at the Junior European Biathlon Championships in Jakuszyce, Poland. Birgit Schölzhorn (Ridnaun) and Gaia Brunello (Gröden) achieved the best placement in the final mass start, where they took 21st and 32nd place respectively.

The podium of the U15 winners at the Hubert Leitgeb Cup in Martell.

The Grogg Biathlon Center in Martell was the venue for the fourth stage of the Hubert Leitgeb Cup powered by Raiffeisen on Sunday. An individual competition was held in which over 130 young biathletes took part. The individual category winners at a glance:
U9: Anna Lena Staffler (Ulten) – Aaron Gufler (Passeier)
U11: Franziska Staffler (Ulten) – Karl Weiss (Martell)
U13: Lea Hochrainer (Ridnaun) – Elia Steinkasserer (Antholz)
U15: Teresa Seeber (Antholz) – Felix Wolf (Antholz)

Cross-country skiing: 200 starters at the Raiffeisen Cup in Pens

The Raiffeisen Cross Country Cup continued on Saturday in Sarntal. The dedicated cross-country skiing club welcomed almost 200 participants who gave their best in the distance race using the classic technique. The individual category winners at a glance:
Years 2016-17: Emma Kostner (Dobbiaco) and Leo Weissensteiner (Deutschnofen)
Years 2014-15: Thea Moser (Sarntal) and Luis Kostner (Toblach)
Years 2012-13: Linda Kostner (Gröden) and Noe Moser (Sarntal)
Years 2010-11: Magda Moser (Sarntal) and Samir Stecher (Prad)
Years 2008-09: Emma Schwitzer (Sarntal) and Christian Marchesini (Toblach)
Years 2006-07: Gracen Stuart Kennedy (Dobbiaco) and Luca Pietroboni (Sesvenna)
Years 2004-05: Erica Negrini (Sesvenna) and Matteo Piazzi (Sesvenna)
Born 2001-03: Elisa Negrini (Sesvenna) and Silas Demez (Gröden)
Senior: Gabriel Köhl (Deutschnofen) and Sonja Stofner (Sarntal)

Gasslitter impresses in the European Cup

Freestyler Maria Gasslitter made it into the top ten twice on her debut in the second highest FIS competition series. The 17-year-old from Castelrotto took tenth place in slopestyle in La Clusaz, France, and came ninth in big air 24 hours later. However, Gasslitter ended the Raiffeisen South Tyrol Slopestyle Tour on Schöneben with a victory in her category (Giovani).

Maria Gasslitter (middle) made people sit up and take notice with her strong performances.

Silvia Bertagna's protégés can look back on successful participation in a FIS slopestyle competition in Mayrhofen. Ryo Scherlin (Seiser Alm) took fourth place overall, just one point behind the podium, and took victory in the U15 age group. In this category, rider Liam Gamper took second place and underlined the strong performance of the South Tyroleans, while taking 16th place in the overall ranking.

Tobogganing: Seven times precious metal at the Junior World Championships

South Tyrol's natural track tobogganers are also the measure of all things for young talent. At the Junior World Championships in Winterleiten, the local runners won seven medals. The most successful athlete was Tobias Paur, who won the gold medal in the single-seater, the double-seater (with state squad athlete Andreas Hofer) and the team competition (with Tina Stuffer). In the men's singles, Anton Gruber Genetti also won the bronze medal, while in the young women's category, Stuffer celebrated the silver medal and Jenny Castiglioni took third place. In the doubles, another bronze medal went to two South Tyrolean tobogganers, namely Gruber Gennetti and his partner Hannes Unterholzner.

National champion in sport tobogganing crowned

The new national champions in sports tobogganing were determined last weekend on the “Jo Duvel” track in St. Martin in Thurn. Around 90 tobogganers from all parts of South Tyrol took part in the Badia Valley. Here are the individual winners:
Doubles: Tobias Müller/Tobias Mair (Laugen Tisens/1.08,59)
Student 2: Anika Comploi (Wengen/1.19,34) and Leon Tschaffert (Wengen/1.15,94)
Youth 1: Teresa Runggatscher (Villnöß/1.15,14) and Tommy Nagler (Wengen/1.13,60)
Youth 2: Sarah Runggatscher (Villnöß/1.12,38) and Peter Runggatscher (Villnöß/1.07,48)
Juniors 1: Iris Runggatscher (Villnöß/1.07,50) and Moritz Oberhauser (Lüsen/1.06,43)
Juniors 2: Greta Nocker (Olang/1.06,86) and Aaron Hofer (Olang/1.05,71)
General class: Theresa Hilpold (Pfeffersberg/1.06,40) and Simon Schwienbacher (Laugen Tisens/1.04,99)
Master B III: Anton Zelger (Deutschnofen/1.06,46)
Master B II: Florian Hofer (Feldthurns/1.06,15)
Master AI: Meinhard Pircher (Laugen Tisens/1.05,21)